Presidential candidate Marco Rubio said during a radio interview that Florida State is for people who can't get into UF.

"Look, I don't have anything against Florida State," Rubio said. "I think there has to be a school where people who can't get into Florida can go to college. And so that's why we have Florida State."

Rubio was conducting a phone interview on KNXO 1460 AM, and Iowa radio station, and the conversation shifted toward college football rivalries in Florida.

Rubio, a graduate from UF's political science program and UM's law school, began his college career at Sante Fe Community College.

Some, like Wayne McGhee at Noles Digest, have also pointed out that UF's political science program and UM's law school, ranked No. 50 and No. 63 in the country, respectively, both actually trail Florida State–FSU boasts a political science program ranked No. 40 and a law school ranked No. 50 in the nation, according to US News & World Report survey.

On Tuesday, Florida State president John Thrasher issued a statement in response to the presidential candidate’s comments.

“He’s a nice kid,” FSU President John Thrasher said of Rubio. “I’m sure he’s frustrated by his low standing in the polls, which I believe could be a reflection of where he got his education.”

Many Florida State fans took this retort up as a kind of rallying cry.

Rubio tweeted on Tuesday for FSU fans to relax.

“It was just college football trash talk on sports radio, not serious statement on @meetthepress,” Rubio said in a tweet.